My first stop of the day was in Corinth Mississippi - a bit out of the way but worth it. I wanted to go to the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center - part of Shiloh National Military Park. The battle at Corinth took place because both armies wanted to control the strategic railroad crossroads located in that town. Control of the railroads meant that men and materiel could be moved quickly - a great logistical advantage. Richmond and Corinth were considered to be the greatest strategic points of the war. The Union Army wanted to successfully overtake those points at all costs. Over 6,000 union soldiers are buried in the cemetery at Corinth. It was a short drive into town to see those very crossroads - still used today- that was the cause of so much bloodshed.

Upon leaving Corinth, I took the "slow road" to Jackson, the state capitol. The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 50 mile an hour two lane scenic road. Tom and I drove a portion of it when we were in Natchez and it was lovely - still is. The Trace is 444 miles long and goes through three states - Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. Meriwether Lewis is buried at Milepost 385.9 in Tennessee. The old Natchez Trace was a footpath for the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians. Thomas Jefferson made it a post road and it became a pioneer trail known as the Old Southwest Road. It's a leisurely drive - a nice change from highways. I actually had the opportunity to look around and enjoy the scenery.

Four hours later I arrived in Jackson at the State Capitol. This is a beautiful Beaux Arts style building completed in 1903. The Grand Staircase is magnificent and the stained glass on rotunda ceilings and walls are beautiful. At first I thought the building was practically empty because it was 3:30 on a Friday afternoon but then I was told that the legislature only meets for three months out of the year ( except for committee meetings) and they are not in session. My self guided tour only took a half an hour so I ate an early dinner and went to my hotel. Nasty weather today - cool and rainy.